Taskforce Guardian, a dedicated team of police and youth justice workers, joined Polair as well as local specialist and general duties officers on the Darling Downs this week to target recidivist juvenile property offenders and support community safety.
The borderless nature of Taskforce Guardian allows the team to deploy at any time, where support is needed most across the state.
The establishment of this new rapid-response arm of the State Flying Squad, solely focussed on youth-crime, provides immediate support to local police to disrupt youth offending.
Over the past week, officers across the Darling Downs conducted 66 engagements including street checks, bail checks, breaches of bail and warrants.
In that time, Taskforce Guardian officers, in conjunction with Darling Downs Police and Polair, charged 37 people with 98 offences.
Along with the Toowoomba Youth Co-responder Team, Taskforce Guardian officers also engaged with 71 young people, including assisting with bail and welfare checks.
Taskforce Guardian is a surge response team bringing together detectives and expert youth justice workers, deployed to assist local police efforts in targeting and disrupting the high-end offenders in hotspot locations.
Taskforce Guardian also works with key support services and local resources to engage at-risk youth with relevant programs, focusing on health, education, disability services and First Nations initiatives.
Detective Acting Inspector Paula Smithard from the Darling Downs District said the Taskforce had assisted Toowoomba Police over the past week to support and target juvenile offenders.
"Along with local police and Polair, Taskforce Guardian has saturated our local shopping centres and other key locations to disrupt youth offending," Detective Acting Inspector Smithard said.
"Officers from the Taskforce have not only targeted youth crime, but have engaged with young people to foster a positive rapport to support in reducing crime, focus on health and education and provide appropriate support services."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
